Fence post



y 1950 w. R. TETZLAFF 21,515,615

FENCE POST Filed Jan. 15, 1945 gay/C.

IN V EN TOR. M74715? 4. 5724/70 Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE,

Walter R. Tetzlafl, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application J anuary'15, 1945, Serial No. 572,764

This invention relates to improvements in fence posts.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a metal fence post to which the strands or wires of afence may be quickly and at the same time securely attached, the wiresbeing clutchingly engaged to prevent longitudinal movement thereof.

Second, to provide apost having these advantages with a ground engaginganchoring. plate enabling the use of a post of relatively small crosssection and at the same time provide one having substantial resistanceto lateral pressure or thrust.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in the claims. j

A structure which embodies thefeatures of the invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective elevation view of a fence posthaving the strands of a fence engaged therewith and shown in operativerela tion to the ground.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary rear perspective view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated the post I is formed ofangle steel of suitable dimension and has a plurality of longitudinallyspaced transverse slots 2 in the angle of the apex thereof, each slotbeing spaced from the other slots to receive the longitudinal strands 3of a fence, or the longitudinal strands may constitute a fence. I haveshown plain wire strands in the accompanying drawing but the structureis adapted to receive multiple strand barbed wire.

The slots 2 are of such depth as to provide a space 4 between the strandand the inner angle of the post so that a headed fastener 5, suitably anail, may be inserted in the space 4 and driven downwardly, the head notonly providing a good impact surface to receive the blows of a hammerbut also supporting the nail at an angle so that when it is driven downit engages the wire with i The anchor plate 8 is formed of a flatrectangular piece of metal having a V-shaped offset! therein 01 suchdimensions as to closely embrace the post, the anchoring plate beingsecured to the post by spot welding at II]. This provides oppositelydisposed wings and the anchoring plate serves to reinforce the post atthe point where it is most likely to bend orv break, and constitutes aneffective reinforcing element at this point. This condition results eventhough the anchor plate beof relatively thin material, and it alsopermits the use of relatively light material for the post. The anchorplate shaped andsecured to the post as above set forth far cilitates thestamping of the same from sheet or,

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments oradaptations of the invention as it is believed this disclosure willenable those skilled in the art to embody the invention as may bedesired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A metal fence post of V-shaped cross section having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced transverse slots in the angle thereof adapted toindividually receive strands of wire, and an anchor plate having acentral portion of V-shaped cross section, the sides of said V-shapedcentral portion being disposed in nesting engagement with and parallelto the sides of the post and spot welded thereto, said anchor plateprojecting outwardly in opposite directions from the outer edges of thesides of its central V-shaped portion to provide anchoring wings, saidwings being disposed substantially in a common plane to permit of thewings being disposed substantially parallel to the plane of a fence,said anchor plate being positioned to extend partially above andpartially below the surface of the ground when the ost is seated, therebeing a slot transversely across the apex of the anchor plateregistering with the bottom slot of said post.

2. A metal fence post of V-shaped cross section having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced transverse slots in the angle thereof adapted toindividually receive strands of wire, and an anchor plate having acentral portion of V-shaped cross section, the sides of said V-shapedcentral portion being disposed in nesting engagement with and parallelto the sides of the post and spot welded thereto, said anchor plateprojecting outwardly in opposite directions from the outer edges of thesides of its central V-shaped portion to provide anchoring wings, saidwings being disposed substantially in a common plane to permit of thewings being disposed substantially parallel to the plane of a fence,.said anchor plate being of a generally rectangular outline with two ofthe diagonally opposed corner portions thereof disposed in verticalalinement with each other and in nesting engagement with the apex of theV-shaped post, said anchor plate a tion having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced transverse slots in the angle thereof adapted toindividually receive strands of wire, and an anchor plate having acentral portion of V-shaped cross section, the sides of said V-shapedcentral portion being disposed in nesting engagement with and parallelto the sides of the post and spot welded thereto, said anchor plate-projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the outer edges of thesides of its central V-shaped portion to provide anchoring wings, saidwings being disposed substantially in a common plane 4 1 to permit ofthe wings being disposed substantially parallel to the lane of a fence,said anchoring plate being positioned to extend partially above andpartially below the surface of the ground when the post is seated andconstituting a reinforcing member, there being a slot transverselyacross the apex of the anchor plate registering with the bottom slot ofsaid post.

4. A metal ,fence post of V-sha-ped cross section having spaced means atthe angle thereof to facilitate securing strands of spaced wirestransversely of the post, and an anchor plate having a central verticalportion of V-shaped cross section, the sides of the central V-shapedportion being disposed in nesting engagement with and parallel to thesides of the post, and secured thereto, said anchor plate projectingoutwardly in opposite directions from the outer edges of the sides ofits central V-shaped portion and outwardly beyond the side edges of thepost to provide anchoring wings, said anchor plate being of a generallyrectangular outline with two of the diagonally opposed corner portionsthereof disposed in vertical alinement and in nesting engagement withthe apex of the V-shaped'post.

WALTER R. TETZLAFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 632,585 Parker Sept. 5, 1899962,632 Frost June 28,1910

1,360,350 Anderson 'Nov. 30, 1920 1,964,404 Lynch June 26, 19342,065,562 Brown Dec. 29, 1936 2,150,291 Paque Mar. 14, 1939 2,222,249*Borgen' Nov. 19, 1940 2,227,553 Paque' Jan. 7, 1941

